October 24, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans linebacker Cameron Smith (35) runs the ball after intercepting the ball against the Utah Utes during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
LOS ANGELES — Shaken after two consecutive losses and the dismissal of its coach, unranked USC needed more than a morale booster. It needed a victory.
Sparked by the defensive gems of freshman linebacker Cameron Smith, USC knocked No. 3 Utah from the unbeaten ranks with a 42-24 victory Saturday night, in front of 73,435 at the Coliseum.
The victory pushed USC to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the Pac-12 South. Utah (6-1, 3-1) suffered its first loss.
Smith intercepted three passes, including one that he brought back 54 yards for a touchdown. It was the first time a USC player had made three interceptions in a game since 1991, when safety Jason Oliver accomplished the feat.
Smith’s three interceptions remarkably were similar: Each time he swooped in front of an intended Utah receiver in the flat.
USC’s defense contained star Utah running back Devontae Booker, who entered the game ranked 10th nationally at 130.5 rushing yards per game. Led by senior defensive end Greg Townsend Jr., the Trojans clogged the running lanes and harassed quarterback Travis Wilson all game.
Booker rushed for just 62 yards on 14 carries, and Wilson threw four interceptions against two touchdowns.
USC quarterback Cody Kessler completed 21 of 28 passes for 264 yards, including a touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who caught eight passes for 143 yards.
USC took a 7-0 lead on its first drive. Junior running back Justin Davis took a pitchout left and circled into the end zone from nine yards to climax a nine-play, 88-yard march.
Utah immediately responded by driving 83 yards in nine plays, capped by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Wilson to freshman wide receiver Britain Covey.
Covey set up the Utes’ second touchdown on their next possession when he weaved his way to the 2-yard line on a 40-yard punt return. Senior wide receiver Bubba Poole ran it in on the next play to give Utah a 14-7 lead.
Smith returned an interception 41 yards to set up USC on Utah’s 4-yard line. It took USC four plays to score on a 1-yard dive by senior fullback Soma Vainuku.
The Trojans regained the lead at 21-14 late in the half, when freshman running back Ronald Jones II scored on an 18-yard run to finish off a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
Smith picked off his second pass of the half on Utah’s ensuing possession, taking it back 54 yards to the end zone to give USC a 28-14 lead.
Utah’s Andy Phillips kicked a 53-yard field goal with five seconds remaining in the half to slice USC’s lead to 28-17.
Kessler scored on a 1-yard run with 3:37 left in the third quarter, capping an 83-yard drive. Kessler then hit Smith-Schuster on a 25-yard TD pass early in the fourth quarter, putting USC up 42-17.
Covey scored the final touchdown, on a 66-yard pass from Wilson with four minutes to play.
NOTES: USC’s two-way sophomore, Adoree’ Jackson, did not start at cornerback for the first time this year. Jackson, who has been getting more extensive work with the offensive unit, made his first career start at wide receiver. … While USC has just two players from Utah (linebackers Porter Gustin and Osa Masina), Utah has 40 native Californians on its roster. Included is Masina’s brother, sophomore LB Uaea Masina. … Utah’s 6-0 start was its best since 2010, when the Utes won their first eight games. … USC LB Su’a Cravens is related by marriage to Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. … Utah senior RB Devontae Booker had rushed for 2,295 yards since transferring from American River Community College. Booker entered Saturday’s game 217 yards shy of reaching 1,000 for the second consecutive year. … USC sophomore WR JuJu Smith-Schuster ranked first in the Pac-12 and fifth nationally in receiving yards at 126.3 per game.
